I think the main idea is that we all try to agree on a standard so that our routing devices and guitars and all the OBEL-equipped guitar makers can keep this system universal. Sure we can make our own version if we want, but it's for these other reasons I mentioned that is why we may want to keep consistent with eachother.
I disagree with the previous post with the placement of the tone pot circuit. Tone pots and cap values are designed to have a direct and passive connection to the pickup itself, NOT after the signal has been buffered and isolated. You won't get the same resonant shift response with your tone controls if you don't have them tied directly to the pickups and BEFORE the buffer/preamp. Having the tone control before the buffer and before the distortion pedal is central to achieving that special "tone-off", horn-like quality that we enjoy with Jerry sound. A post buffered tone control just won't do that sound. Also, since tone control circuit cap values are "impedance dependent", you would have to re-calculate the tone pot and tone cap values to achieve a useful treble rolloff frequency in the tone control.
Brad
... and it's just like any other day that's ever been...